Platform or plank.



J. S'. lTILLEY.

' PLATFQRM on PLANE.

APPLIOATIOR FILED MAR. 8, 1909.

"982,905, l :Patented Jan. 31,1911,

JOHN S. TILLEY, 0F WATERVLIET, NEW YORK.

PLATFORM 0R PLANK.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

PatentedJ an. 31, 1911.

I Application filed March 6, 1909. Serial No. 481,596.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. TILLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watervliet, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Platforms or Planks, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to platforms or planks of the type comprising a plurality of sections operatively connected tov gether for relative sliding movement to form a platform longitudinally extensible and collapsible.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a novel form of platform of the character just stated, whereby the sliding sections telescope one with the other, presenting similar smooth and continuous upper and lower' surfaces which may be reversed in use, and at the same time preserving the requisite `qualities of rigidity and stability.

Most of the prior constructions along the line of the present invention with which I ampfamiliar, have proved impracticable to alarge extent and'often times dangerous because of the fact that when in operation and when the sections of the platform have been extended andweight applied thereto, the parts are more or less shaky and will spring, Warp or twist, which is due largely to the factthat the main sections are wholly unsupported and devoid of stiffening means intermediate their ends.

An important feature of the invention, therefore7 lies in: the provision of novel means for overcoming. the objectionable features just noted, and to this end I provide intermediate the ends of one of the sections, conveniently the main or body part of the platform, bracing or sti'lfening instrumentalities constructed and arranged to constitute a support extending substantially from side to side of the body part, at a point removed froni the usual end bracers. The advantages ofthe intermediate bracing instrumentalities mentioned are many, among which may be noted the fact that the platform v so constructedy is braced and i stifened throughout, twisting, springing and w'abbling are prevented .and racking and rocking are avoided, it being borne in mind that the bracing instrumentalities also constitute spacing means for the separated strips or slats comprising the make-up of the sections.

A platform fashioned along the line of the present invention is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture and at the same time efficient, durable and practicable.V

The novel details in the construction and arrangement of the several parts will be pointed out in the description following, and for a clear understanding thereof, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and wherein I have disclosed for the purpose of illustration satisfactory embodiments of the invention.

In the diawings--Figul'e l is a plan View' of a preferred form of the invention showing the sections of the platform in collapsed or closed position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. e is a top plan view showing the sections extended. Fie. 5 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. (i is a detail view of the locking device.

lith further reference to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, l is a center or main body section and 2 end sections, which latter are of substantially the same thicknessl as the main body section and are adapted in a manner to be described, to slide relative to said body section and assume a closed or collapsed condition as indicated in Fig. l., or extendedposition as shown in Fig. 4L.

rlhe section l is made up of a plurality of closely associated strips or slats, separated one from the other for the reception of substantially similar strips or slats comprising the end sections.A Spacing blocks 3 are aranged one between each strip of the end sections and at the ends of the latter so as to maintain the strips of the end sections properly spaced, an auxiliary block 3 being provided to the outside of the outermost. slut or strip of each section so as to contact when in closed position with the outermost strip or slat l of the main section l. lVhen the plank is in use, the blocks 3 will constitute in effect.I a continuation of the bearing formed by the strip ln to engage a wall, or the like, and prevent rocking of the plank. Novel means are provided for suitably supporting the spacing blocks in position,

whereby no obstruction is offered to the surfaces of the sections, the same compr1slng a rod or rods lextending through alined apertures in the said spacing blocks and the respective strips of the sections By roviding a plurality of rods it will be noted that the spacing blocks 3 will be held immovable and any retaining devices at the ends of the rods which would offer obstructions thereby made unnecessary. Extending between and over the respective strips of the main or body section 1 are rods or bands 5, which are secured in any desired manner to the upper and lower surfaces of the slats of the section 1 adjacent the ends of the latter, Similar rods or bands 6 are applied at the inner ends of the endY sections 2, it being observed that the rods or bands G may contact stops 6a secured in the body near the ends which constitute means for limiting the outward movement of the end sections 2. It has been found in practice thatthe middle or main body section of the platform will twist or spring upon weight being applied thereto, and to overcome this and other objections, I provide novel stiffening and bracing instrumentalities intermediate the ends of the section 1.

In the structure disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the bracing instrumentalities comprise blocks 7 which are relatively long and are disposed one between each strip or slat of the section 1, thereby providy ing spacing blocks for the latter. These spacing blocks 7 offer no obstructions beyond the upper and lower surfaces of the section 1 and are maintained in position by a plurality of rods 8 passing through complementary apertures in the blocks 7 and the strips of the section 1. Conveniently the rods 8 are located on opposoite sides of the longitudinal center of the spacing block and thus serve after the partis are tightly bound together to resist independent turning or bending action at the center of the main portion of the platform. The construction materially strengthens the center part of the platform against checking or breaking transverse the center lining. Platforms of this character are made of relatively narrow strips approximating seven-eighths of an inch in thickness, two inches in width, and eight feet in length, thus presenting a very frail structure if the respective strips are not tightly bound together and braced or reinforced centrally across the plank. I have ascertained that the proper manner of securing this bracing and uniting of the parts at the center is to employ at least a plurality of bolts, rods or their equivalent and locate them so that the breaking and torsional strain will be resisted at localized points on opposite sides of the centers of the blocks. When in position these blocks 7 constitute a rigid support for each of the parts of the section 1 and will prevent any springing, twisting or wabbling of the parts, which 1s an important feature of the invention, since owing to the uses to which structures of the character under consideration are put, it is essential that the platforms be rigid throughout, whereby the workman may obtain a firm footing, it being borne in mind that often times a steady hand is absolutely necessary, and any spring or wabbling of the platform would' prevent this.

The innermost strip o f the end sections vare extended at their inner ends at 2a which,

when the end sectionsare closed overlap the block 7 and contact one with the other thereby providing substantially continuous side and upper and lower surfaces.

The Vstrips of the respective sections are disposed edgewise so as to provide a substantial depth to the platform and overcome the springing to a large extent, andV by reason of the close association of the strips the feet or heels of the workmen cannot slip into the spaces therebetween.

The structure ust described ma'kes it possible to have each of the sections 1 and 2 of the same width which is of importance in that it has been found in practice that if the end sections are narrower than the body part the platform will rock and tip in use which men. Y

In operat-ion, the parts having been properly applied, the strips of the main or intermediate and end sections while having a snug interlocking fit are free to slide longitudinally relative to one another, the rods or bands 6 and the stops 6 constituting means for limiting the extension movementA and the blocks 7 constituting a rigid point of contact for the respective end sections when in closed position.

Novel means is employed for securing the plank sections in closed position, the same conveniently taking the form of spring bail 17 on one of the extensions 2a adapted to engage over a notched part 18 ofthe adjacent part 22L as shown. This lockingmeans is shown as constructed and arranged to ofer no protuberance beyond the surfaces of the sections and when the parts are locked, the lower surface of the collapsed plank is continuous, thereby overcoming any likelihood of parts of a wagon engaging in the space between the section and opening of the same in placing the plank onto and taking the same from-the wagon.

'What I claim as new and desire to ysecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a plank of the character described, the combination with a central section formed of a series of longitudinally extending strips spaced apart and having their end portions connected, of end sections comprising a series of strips spaced apart slidably positioned between the strips of the central section and having their end portions connected together, and means for unitinff and bracing the intermediate portion 0I the strips of the central section comprising a series of blocks fitted between the spaces between the strips, and a plurality of fastening rods passing through the strips and blocks on opposite sides respectively of the center of the latter.

2. In a plank of the character described, the combination with a central portion com posed of a series of spaced apart strips having their ends connected, and sliding end extensions formed of strips positioned to slide between the strips of the cent-ral section and having their ends connected7 of means for strengthening and uniting the strips o the central section intermediate the ends thereoll comprising a series of spacing blocks interposed between the respective strips, and means for uniting the various strips and blocks located on opposite sides of the center of said blocks, for the purposes specified.

3. In a plank of the character described, the combination of a central section coniposed of a series of separated narrow strips having their ends connected, end sections composed of strips slidably mounted between the strips ot' the central section and having their ends connected, spacing blocks interposed centrally between the strips oi the center section, and means for binding the blocks and the strips together at the said center point, whereby the central part of the center section is rendered unitary in its constructioi'l, the respective strips held against independent tilting or twisting action, and said central part of the center section strengthened.

In testiinon whereof I afiix my signature in presence ot two witnesses.

JOHN S. TILLEY. IVitnesses CALVIN T. MILANS, GEO. D. RILEY. 

